A fear of the dark is a coming childhood (and even adulthood) fear. I’ve check under a bed and in a dark closet a few times over the years. This storytime is a playful way to talk about and even face the dark and perfect for any kid, even those who are afraid of the dark.
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Brave the Dark Storytime
Great read alouds about the dark and being afraid of the dark, along some fun songs and activities are included below. This is a great storytime to do in the evening with pajamas on, but works any time of day and any time of year. You can also do this in conjunction with a movie night showing of Orion and the Dark. More on that in a minute!
Brave the Dark Read Alouds
Orion and the Dark
by Emma Yarlett
ORION AND THE DARK is an adorable book about imagination and fears. Orion is afraid of most things, but what he’s most afraid of is the dark. One night, Dark comes to his room and invites him on an adventure. Together they face fears, look more closely at things that seemed scary at first, and learn sometimes things aren’t what you assume. I absolutely love the illustrations in this book. They are full of warmth and humor and imagination.
Orion and the Dark now a movie on Netflix!
Ella and Penguin Stick Together
by Megan Maynor
Good news! Ella has some glow in the dark stickers and she wants to share with Penguin. Bad News? They have to go in the dark closet WITH the door closed to make them work. A delightful story about facing your fears and the power of friendship.
The Woods
by Paul Hoppe
A boy can’t find his bunny and the only place he hasn’t looked yet is The Woods. He bravely charges in only to be confronted by a bear, a three headed dragon, and a big monster. Hoppe artfully balances suspenseful excitement with a predictable structure which makes this delightful scary read aloud more fun than actually scary. As a bonus, this story also offers some wonderful opportunities to discuss fears, bravery, and misconceptions.
Flashlight
by Lizi Boyd
A little girl is lying in her comfortable tent with her flashlight seemingly wondering, what is out there all around her? At its root, this is a creatively illustrated book about a child in the woods with a flashlight. This is potentially enough, however it is also an adventure, at times a humorous tale, and always a clever look at the nature all around us. Primarily illustrated in silver, black, and white, only what can be seen in the flashlight is colored. The contrast is dramatic and encourages you to look more closely at the natural details often overlooked during the day. Flashlight offers a unique way to look at the world told through an entirely wordless adventure. Eye-catching and rich in detailed, this is a book to read and absorb slowly and over and over again.
Song to Sing
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
Activities about Darkness and Fears
Light on Dark Art –
This is a super easy invitation to create. All you need is some black construction paper and chalk for each kid to color with at the table. If you want, you can also add some star stickers to the table.
Flashlight Shape Hunt –Â
Get moving with this super fun activity that leans into the darker months of winter and every child’s fascinating with flashlights. Read the full description of this activity (see Finding Circles at the bottom of the list) on Bambini Travel.
